HEADLINES Published January20, 2016 By Beatrice Asuncion

Oldest Animal Still Alive After Almost Two Centuries

(Photo : Getty Images - Matt King)

The oldest living giant tortoise named Jonathan is already 183 years old and instead of getting weaker because of his old age Jonathan miraculously became more active because of the new diet that his veterinarian is giving him.

Jonathan was born Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean. He was eventually captured and was given as a gift to the governor of St. Helena, an island just a tad smaller than Manhattan back in 1882.

 Currently, Jonathan still resides on that small Atlantic island of St. Helena but is now in a place where he's being taken care of and is treated like a king.

Back in 2012 Jonathan's health began deteriorating - he is now blind due to cataracts and has permanently lost his sense of smell. Dr. Hollins, the veterinarian in charge of Jonathan's upkeep, has implemented ways in order for Jonathan feel young again. Hollins eventually decided to give Jonathan more decent food other than twigs, leaves and grass that Jonathan has been eating over the past century.

The giant tortoise is now given foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals such as apples, carrots, cucumbers, bananas and guava. Hollins stated how the giant tortoise's health drastically changed after he was introduced with the new kind of diet.

"Jonathan is alive and well! I fed him yesterday as I do every Sunday, and his appetite was vigorous. He's blind from cataracts, has lost his sense of smell, and so cannot detect food (his fellow giants mug me and can detect the tiniest morsel dropped on the ground), but he has retained excellent hearing" explained Hollins.

Jonathan have already surpassed the life expectancy of a giant tortoise which is 150 years old hoping that because of Dr. Hollins' hard work in keeping Jonathan strong and healthy the giant tortoise could live for another century.

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